Lagos Shuts 40 Health Facilities in 6 Months Over Inefficiency

Lagos State government, recently said that in the first six months of 2023, 40 health facilities were shut over quackery.

Executive Secretary of Lagos State Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), Dr. Abiola Idowu, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ meeting, with the theme, “Combating Quackery in the Health Sector: Strengthening Stakeholders’ Collaboration and Regulatory Oversight.”

She said majority of the health facilities were closed because they were unregistered.

She added that other infractions include operating without required personnel or practising beyond scope of approval.

Also, Chairman of HEFAMAA, Dr. Yemisi Solanke-Koya, said the stakeholders’ engagement was put together for better collaboration with critical players in the sector because they are needed to curb quackery in the state.

She noted that quackery is an issue across Nigeria but Lagos wants to be ahead in checkmating it.

Solanke-Koya thanked the Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration for its support towards ensuring quality healthcare service for Lagosians while highlighting the importance of collaboration to tackle the scourge.

Meanwhile, former Chief Medical Director (CMD), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof. Akin Osibogun, in his keynote address, said community’s collaboration is critical to checking quackery, adding that regulators and monitors must maintain reliable intelligence of their environment and be in charge.

He noted that regulators and monitors are not liked by the lazy and chalartans. Osibogun further said regulators and monitors must overwhelm lazy professionals and quacks.

He noted that poor regulations, religious and cultural beliefs contribute to why quackery thrives in any community.

The former LUTH CMD urged health monitoring and regulatory agencies in the country to be firm in applying sanctions and continuous training of members of staff to enable them to carry out their duties effectively.

He identified consumer ignorance and desperation and ungoverned health space as some of the drivers of quackery, urging Nigerians to take advantage of health insurance to curb out-of-pocket spending and exorbitant fees during major illnesses.

Permanent Secretary, Olusegun Ogboye, who was represented by Dr Funmi Shokunbi, said the Lagos State government was poised to stem out quackery.

July 20, 2023